The prevailing discourse of quality in early childhood education in Australia and internationally supports the idea that everyone, from families to educators, policymakers, researchers and politicians, wants high-quality early childhood education programs for all young children. This dominance is so pervasive that it becomes difficult to think…

Argues that standards-referenced reporting frameworks, the Australian nationally developed Mathematics Profile in particular, require the use of teacher observation as an essential assessment practice if teachers are to report the full range of demonstrated student achievement. Supports student self-assessment. (14 references) (Author/MKR)